Nathan Willett couldn’t hold back the sentimentality at the start of a four-song encore at the Observatory on Friday night. Who could blame him? The singer was wrapping up a tour that lasted nearly the entirety of 2013, and which came full circle, beginning at the Bootleg Theatre in February, with a show at the Observatory the next week, only to end in this same Santa Ana spot, virtually a hometown show for a band that has been based in both Fullerton and Long Beach.

But while it might seem a neat and fitting conclusion to this part of Cold War Kids’ history, like the end of a chapter in a long novel, their story has less and less to do with the actual lineup that now exists.

Prior to the recording of this year’s underrated Dear Miss Lonelyhearts, the group’s fourth full-length work, founding guitarist Jonnie Russell left. Drummer Matt Aveiro also has exited: whether temporarily or permanently isn’t clear, but he’s been replaced recently by Modest Mouse anchor Joe Plummer. Russell’s substitute, Dann Gallucci, also has Modest Mouse roots and is playing in the Murder City Devils; touring keyboardist Matthew Schwartz will join MCD as well when they headline here Tuesday night.

Essentially, Cold War Kids is becoming a revolving door of pedigreed but hired hands, great musicians who nonetheless make the band’s back-story seem less relevant.

With just Willett and bassist Matt Maust remaining from the group that formed atop Mulberry St. Ristorante, the Italian mainstay in downtown Fullerton, the frontman’s emotional speech held more significance. His repeated mentions of endings may have signified not just a tour finale but the close of an era for the group, with perhaps some tough decisions ahead regarding which way to continue.

All along CWK has been forced to survive in an awkward middle-ground between Pitchfork-approved indie darlings and KROQ-approved radio titans in training. Yet survive is exactly what they have done, consistently selling out sizeable venues and attracting the sort of passionate devotion that usually comes with greater global fame. Willett alluded to this, commenting that the band wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for their Orange County fan base “that came to see them 10 times at Detroit Bar.”

Despite this night’s persistent vibe of conclusions, this is unlikely the last we’ve heard from Cold War Kids. But when the band does return, it’s hard to imagine personnel changes not altering the project more than Gallucci’s addition already has, given his co-producing role on their most recent LP, which established a rawer direction further extended on September’s digital-only EP, Tuxedos.

Performance-wise, the new Cold War Kids can be both looser and stiffer, with Maust engaging every member as the band’s binding glue. Willett, however, easily could embark as a solo act with his piano-troubadour routine: this night began with a new cut in that vein, “Pine St.,” while the encore found him going solo for “Bottled Affection.”

Well, not completely solo – he asked the crowd to help with the chorus, displaying an innate need for CWK to remain a community, regardless of who comes and goes from the group. For devotees, especially locally, some of their songs – this year’s excellent “Miracle Mile,” this night’s closing “Saint John,” from 2006 debut Robbers & Cowards – are bigger than the band’s individual egos, as evidenced by the overwhelming reaction these thousand fans had to the band’s staples. Even a cover of the Band’s “You Don’t Come Through” was met with a warm reaction, although it’s unlikely many attendees were familiar with that Basement Tapes-era obscurity, despite it being in set lists since March.

That legendary group, of course, is famous for, among other things, The Last Waltz, by which point in its career the Band was acrimoniously crumbling. It’s hard not to wonder to what extent Cold War Kids have been going through similar splintering, and this final dance of the year may have placed the weight of the world on Willett’s back. Yet it’s still to be seen where this story is headed. Chapter conclusions, after all, typically only mark the beginning of whatever comes next.

Nathan Willett, left, and Matt Maust of Cold War Kids perform at the sold-out Observatory in Santa Ana Friday night. PHILIP COSORES, FOR THE REGISTER
Cold War Kids' Nathan Willett performs Friday night at the Observatory in Santa Ana. PHILIP COSORES, FOR THE REGISTER
Cold War Kids' Matt Maust (center) is one of two remaining members from the original band, seen playing at the Observatory in Santa Ana Friday night. PHILIP COSORES, FOR THE REGISTER
Dann Gallucci, Matt Maust and Nathan Willett of Cold War Kids at the Observatory in Santa Ana Friday night. PHILIP COSORES, FOR THE REGISTER
Dann Gallucci of Cold War Kids at the Observatory in Santa Ana Friday night. PHILIP COSORES, FOR THE REGISTER
Dann Gallucci and Nathan Willett of Cold War Kids perform to a packed Observatory crowd in Santa Ana Friday night. PHILIP COSORES, FOR THE REGISTER
Matt Maust of Cold War Kids was all business at the Observatory in Santa Ana Friday night. PHILIP COSORES, FOR THE REGISTER
Matt Maust of Cold War Kids wraps up a year of shows behind most recent album 'Dear Miss Lonelyhearts' at the Observatory in Santa Ana Friday night. PHILIP COSORES, FOR THE REGISTER
Cold War Kids played to a capacity crowd at the Observatory in Santa Ana Friday night. PHILIP COSORES, FOR THE REGISTER
Cold War Kids wrap up their latest tour where it began, at the Observatory in Santa Ana, on Friday night. PHILIP COSORES, FOR THE REGISTER
Matthew Schwartz and Nathan Willett of Cold War Kids at the Observatory in Santa Ana Friday night. PHILIP COSORES, FOR THE REGISTER
Cold War Kids returned home to the Observatory in Santa Ana Friday night. PHILIP COSORES, FOR THE REGISTER
Nathan Willett of Cold War Kids leads his band at the Observatory in Santa Ana Friday night. PHILIP COSORES, FOR THE REGISTER

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